Automatic telephone dial light attachment



July 24, 1951 F. J. S HENK AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE DIAL LIGHT ATTACHMENT Filed Sept. 16. 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l F rank J. Shen/r AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE DIAL LIGHT ATTACHMENT Filed Sept. 16. 1947 s Sheets-Sheet 2 7 5 v /mm M mmmrflf U, Wig

D 49 l \j l 45 v47 48 lmzeztm Fig. lzjn- Frank shank July 24, 1951 F. J. SHENK AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE DIAL LIGHT ATTACHMENT Filed Sept. 16. 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor Frank J. Shank Patented July 24, 1951 AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE DIAL ATTACHMENT LIGHT Frank J. Shenk, Washington, no.

I Application September 16, 1947, Serial No. 774,247-

-.The present invention relates to ways and means whereby an illuminable lamp bulb is utilized to provide a source of light sufiicient to illuminatethe dial'on a dial-typetelephone and has morespecific reference ,to a novel structural adaptation which is in the form of an attachment whose component. parts are such as to be satisfactorily usable on the stock parts of a standard-type telephone. 1' TAlflOthGI object of the-invention is'to provide a light for a standard-type telephone dial, said light being characterized by a curvate reflector andbulb located and positioned in such a manner that the light rays are projected and flooded over the face of the-dial from a marginal point, this without interfering with the dialing operations. i,

' Another'object of the invention is to provide a novel dial illuminating bulb or lamp, and means for supporting and properly locating same in operative relation to a regulation style dial, theembodiment of theinvention being such that it includes a trip member included in acircuit make and-break device, which trip member is normally interposed between the telephone receiverand a part of the usual cradle, whereby the weight of the receiver serves to actuate said trip member and to normally keep the circuit open sothat, as soon as thejtelephone receiver is picked up1for dialing, the light comes on automatically andfunctions in the desired manner.

A still further. object of the invention has to do with dial lighting means of the form and style stated which is such that a dry cell battery may be employed to provide the source of current forelectrifying the lamp.

In carrying out the invention, two forms are herein shown and described. Generically, these include a circuit make and break device which has, means whereby it may be conveniently mounted, as an attachment, on the base ofv the telephone, said device serving as a central support for a forwardly and downwardly-hung yoke, said yoke being used as an adaptor for the reflector equipped lamp or bulb. The same device, the circuit make and break device, is used as a support for added complements which provide a battery hanger and means for supplying the current from the battery to the circuit make and break device and from the latter to the lamp bulb. Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description a'ndthe accompanying illustrative drawings, 7

,. In the drawings, wherein like numerals are 5 Claims. (01. 179-90) employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a marily in phantom lines, a French-type telephone including dialing means. and also including the means which constitutes the present invention, that is the means for lighting the dial automati- Figure 2 is a-centralvertical sectional view taken on the somewhat-irregular line 22 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a vertical section at right angles to Figure 2, this being on the vertical line 33 of Figure 2, also looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section taken approximately on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a group perspective view of the battery hanger fixture;

Figure 6 is a horizontal-sectional view taken approximately onthe line 66 of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows, the view being on an enlarged scale; I

Figure '7 is a group perspective view of the adaptor which electrically connects a source of current from the battery hanger and battery to the vertical circuit'make and break device;

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view on the line '88 of Figure 7; tary type;

Figure 9 is a group perspective view showing the suspension fixture, reflector, and lamp bulb, forming-the principal means for flooding light on the dial;

- Figure 10 is an enlarged horizontal section on the line Ill-40 of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a fragmentary H|l of Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a view gram;

- Figure 13 is a perspective view showing a modified type of -telephone and a correspondingly modified automatic telephone dial light construction; a I

Figure 14 is a vertical section on the line l4l4 of Figure 15; V

Figure 15 is a central vertical section at right angles to Figure 14 on'the line l5-l5 of Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a horizontal section on the line Iii-l6 of Figure 14; and r Figure 1'7 isa perspective view of the adaptor means which is employed in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 13.

Attention is first invited to the form of the section on the line of one form of wiring diaperspective view showing, *prithis being of a fragmen- 3 invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 12 inclusive.

It is believed advisable to refer first to the circuit make and break device as this is an essential part of the overall assemblage. This device in the drawings (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3) is denoted by the numeral I9 and comprises an appropriately shaped casing or shell fastened by a screw it 'to a stud 2-2 on a cover plate 23. The device I9 is provided with a pair of reach arms '24 which terminate in hooks 2'5, said hooks being adapted to engage over the bed portion of the cradle structure on the telephone base 26. The base 26 includes the usual upstanding lugs 2.1 defining the cradle for the combination mouthpiece and receiver device 28. This device '28 when it is situated in the cradle, provides the necessary weight-to normally keep the circuit open. This is accomplished by properly utilizing, in conjunction with the arms 24, a trigger spring 29. The latterincludes a curvat'e spring 30-on the interior of the casing which spring carries a contact-element 3! {see Fig. 2-)-. Thecontact element serves to bridge co-acting ends of wires 32 and 33 as shown. Additional wires 34 and 35 are provided, the wire 34 anchored in a depression or socket 35, th'e wire 32 co-acting with 'a-socket 3i in the side wall of the casing and the wire 35 having its opposite ends connected with similar sockets on the opposite side, that is, the sockets in the casing denoted by the numerals 3B and 39. It will be noted that there is 'a rocker shaft 40 mounted in the-casing, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and'this -is prov-ided with 'a cut-out contact element 4i This contact element co-acts with the wires '33 and 34 and makes it possible to cut out the circuit passing through the circuit make and break device whenever necessary or desirous. The rocker shaft 40 is provided with a knob '42 which is conveniently located on the casing so that-during the day, or during a long telephone conversation, the circuit :make and break device may be, by hand, thrown out of :use. Normally, it is set as shown in Figure 2 and hence the device is ready for operation. The main circu'it-is open by the weight of the receiver 28 and, when the receiver is lifted, the spring arm 29 goes up, carries the contact 31 up and bridges the wires 32 and 33 and thus closes the circuit to operate the lighting means. The lighting means, as shown in Figure 9, comprises a small or miniature lamp :bulb 43 which is fitted removably in a reflector 44, said reflector having heads 45 and 66 at opposite ends, these to provide suitable sockets. The socket 41 at the left in Figure 11 is provided with 'a spring pressed contact element 48 and a co-actingspring 49. The socket at the opposite end, the socket 50, is of a suitable construction. These sockets serve to receive contact buttons or elements 51 on the laterally directed arms 52 of thesuspension yoke 53. The yoke is provided with accommodation arms 54 having bearings 55 with buttons "56 and controlling knobs 51. The arms 54 straddle the opposite' ver-tical side portions of thedevice 19 as shown in Figure 1 and the buttons 56 snap into the sockets 35 and 38 provided therefor.

Referring now to Figure 5, the hanger means for the dr cell battery is shown. This comprises a'substantially U-shaped hanger bracket 59 having arm portions 60 and 61 and provided with a centralsocket 62. The arm 61 is provided with a cup 53at one end having a contact button 64. The arm 60 at the opposite end is directed laterally atthepoints 65 and 56 where it is provided their :outer .ends and shoulders 13.

together.

with a button 61 operating with the central portion of a shiftable head or cup 68, the latter having a groove 59 (Fig. 6) for the end portion of the transparent cylinder or shell 10. This shell fits into the cupped head 63 at one end and into the groove 69 of the head 68 at the opposite end. The shell is adapted to accommodate a dry cell battery (not shown).

The adaptor which transferscurrent from the dry cell battery comprises a structure comprising limbs H, these of duplicate construction. The limbs have screw threaded portions 12 at A ring 14, which is appropriately screw threaded, fits on the portions 12 and serves to couple the same The limbs H are flexible and have elbow-like members 15 which also include contact elements or buttons 16. These buttons snap into the remaining recesses 31 and 39 on the circuit make and break device F9 as brought out in Figure 1. The screw threaded portions '12 c'o-act in providing a shank and this either threadsor fits frictionally into the socket 62 for electrical connection with the prongs 1'']. It follows that in this form of the :device, the bulb 43 is posi tioned near the peripheral portion of the dial for illuminating same inian obvious fashion. "The bulb is out-of-the-way of the movable part 0'! the dial construction and therefore 'does not in-- terfere with dialing. The suspension yoke 53 may be raised-and lowered as desired. The battery hanger :fixture 59 on the back serves to am commodate the battery for supplying 'a current and the adaptor device, :the device 18' as shown in Figure 7 is sufiicient to transmit the current from the'batt'ery to the circuit make and break device where it is properly used, by the device and its complemental parts to supply :light for the :dial. l

Referring to Figure 6, it will be seen that the socket BZ'an'd arms-60 and GI and head formation 631are fashioned upon a unified body of plastic or equivalent material and that the conductor elements are embedded within the plastic itself. This exaggerated =view will serve to bring out an operative construction. Likewise, in J'Figure 8, we see an exaggerated"illustration of one of the limbs or arms I! which has the necessary conductor element embedded therein. In Figure 10, the exaggerated figure is for the same-purpose of clearness of illustration but here it will 'be noted that the contact button (and this may be either one or both of the buttons 56) is slidably mounted and provided with a cushioning spring 19 to permit the contact buttons to snap into the respective end sockets, provided therefor, on the reflector heads '45 and 46. In the wiring diagram B denotes a suitable battery "to supply current to the light bulb C through the medium of appropriately interconnected wires including a cut-out D and circuit make and break device E. The parts C, D and E correspond *to the aforementioned parts 4|, 33 and 3! respectively (see- Fi 2-).

Attention is directed now to the modified form of the invention as seen in Figure 13 and complemental Figures 14, 15, i6 and 17. In Figure 13, a different type of French telephone is shown, this at 85, the same including a basell, stand 82 and cradle means '83 for the dual pur pose receiver unit 84. The dial is at as and the dialing disc at 85. Here, the switch or circuit make and break device is denoted, generally speak-ing by the numeral 81 and-comprises a ver- 76 tically disposed shell-like casing carrying a subat 89 and a socket at so which socket is adapted to accommodate the projectable and retractible plugv 9!. The plug is provided with a suitably shaped head 92 which, when situated beneath the receiver, when the latter is in the cradle, is forced downwardly against the tension of the return springs 93; ,The springs surround pins which are connected with a cross-head contact element or bar- 94. This bar, as shown in Figure 14, is adapted'to bridge stationary contacts 95 and 98, the cinitactv 95 leading to a'depression or socket 9T providedin the rim or side wall of the casing. A turn button 98 is provided on the turning shaft 99 carrying a contact clip I86 which bridges an adjacent portion of the stated contactfifi and the 'co-acting end portion of another contact Illl which leads to the socket 102 on the left side of thelcasing in Figure 14. Co-acting depressions 9'! and l02 are provided on the opposite side of the shell or casing and are connected by a conductor or wire I 03. It is obvious that the cut-out 98 is used the same as the cut-out in the aforementioned form of the invention. That is to say, if a long conversation is to be had over the telephone, the light is turned off by properly actuating the button or cut-out 98. This button is also turned to open the circuit during the daytime when, as a general proposition, the dial illuminating bulb is not needed. Normally, how;- ever, the element Hill on said button bridges the contacts 96 and id! as shown in Figure it. It follows, therefore, that normally the plug 9! is pressed down into the socket 953 and thisdisengages the bridging contact 9% from the oo-act ing contacts 95 and 5B. The moment the receiver 84 is lifted, the plug and head parts 9| and'fiz go up as'shown in Figures 14 and 15 thus causing the part 94 to bridge the contacts 95, 86. The light then comes on automatically. The light is out out when the receiver is returned to the cramember which cooperates with the telephone receiver, which is normally depressed when the lat-L ter assumes a circuit opening position and adapted, when the receiver is lifted; to close the circuit and at the same time illuminate the dial;

Then too, novelty is predicated in both forms of the invention 0n the device embodying a hand cut-out switch or button which is conveniently located on the circuit make and break device and which is turned off and'on at will depending on whether the dial light is needed, this as explained. 1

A careful consideration of the foregoing de-' scription in conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings'will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty sum cient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 1

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made from the invention as claimed Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An attachment for suspending and position'- ing a'dial illuminating lamp on a dial telephone which includes the usual stationary base, fixed dial and rotary dialing ring ccoperable with said dial comprising a longitudinally bowed hanger yoke having means whereby said dial lamp will lie horizontally in a plane between said dial and rotary dialing ring, a vertically disposed circuit make-and-break unit having supporting and retaining means for attachment to said base and provided with switch controlled current conduct dle. The dry cell or battery holder device in this described and denoted primarily, by-the refer- V ence numeral 59 in Figure 5. Therefore, it seems unnecessary to attemptfto describe this part in Figure .13 since it is primarily obscured from view. This is" also true of the lamp or bulbfhanger which is denoted essentially by the reference numeral 53 in Figure 9. That is to say, the hanger in Figure 13 is the same as that already described. It might be pointed out, in this connection that the connection between the contact buttons on the yoke 53, or rather the arms 54 thereof is made by snapping the buttons into the depressions 91 and 91 provided therefor in Figure 14. The remainingdepressions I02 and 32 serve to accommodatethetips on the ends of the limbsi lll l, that is the tips 15 of the adaptor fiX- ture I06 seen in Figure 1'7. Here, the limbs have semi-circular threaded studs I01 properly shouldered at I08 and assembled by a coupling ring I09. This fixture I06 operates like the one l8 already described.

It is obvious that, generically speaking, both embodiments of the invention have to do with a structure of the type specified and illustrated including an illuminable lamp, means for locating and retaining said lamp in a position to flood light rays on said dial, a circuit make and break device which is adapted to be supported on the base of the standard-type French telephone, said device including a circuit opening and closing ing means including complemental contacts, the central portion of said yoke havingla'teral arms straddling and embracing opposite marginal portions of said circuit make-and-break unit, said lateral arms having spring-pressed contact buttons, means whereby'the buttons are releasably connected with the contacts provided therefor in said circuit-make-and-break unit, said arms hingedly suspending said yoke from said circuit make-and-break unit in a manner to permit the yoke to swing to and to take the desired position in a plane with said dial, the latter end portions of said yoke having contact buttons, a reflector having spring-pressed contactbuttons releasably connected with said last-named contact buttons, the contact buttons on said reflector being provided to support an insertable and removable dial lamp.

2. As a new article of manufacture and as' a component part of an assemblage of the class shown and described, a dry-cell holder for a telephone dial light comprising a, substantially U- shaped frame having lateral contact equipped heads at opposite ends, said heads being in opposed alignment, an open ended dry cell holding cylinder having its end portions removably supported between said heads, the intermediate por tion of the bight of said frame having socket means in electrical connection with the contacts on said heads, a readily attachable and detachable adapter unit having opposed resilient electrically wired limbs terminating at their outer free ends in contact buttons, the opposite ends of said limbs being joined mechanically and having a stud, the wires in said limbs extending into said stud and said stud being separably connect able with said socket, and means including the aforementioned whereby to permit said U-shaped frame, by way of said adapter unit, to be de- 7; tachably mounted on and used in connection-with a ci'rcu it make and break unit.

3. .ln "a dryicell .type dial :illuminator {or dial telephones, a :circuit .make' and break unit provided with'means for detachably supporting said unit on Ia stock ipa'rtofa eonventional'telephone, said :unit embodying current conducting means including a switch, means whereby saidswitch is automatically aetuable by a telephone receiver, said switch being normally open and automaticallyaclosa'ble when said receiver is 'picked'up for dialing a number, a hanger yoke provided with laterally projecting arms electrically and detachably :connected with said circuit make and break means whereby when said yoke is in use it will occupy a position in a plane between the usual fixed dial and customary rotary finger ring cooperablewith said dial, an arcuately curved reflector detachably supported in said yoke and conforming in general curvature to the -curva ture of the adjacent marginal portion of the dial, said reflector being provided internally at op posite end portions with spring pressed :contacts for electrically and removably supporting a, dry cell lamp bulb, a second yoke located -on aside of the circuit make and break unit opposite to that from which the first named yoke is suspended, a drycellelectrically mounted in said seeondnamed yoke, means carried by the said second named yoke and straddling an adjacent part of the telephone and serving to detachably and electrically connectsaid second named yoke with said circuit make and break unit, and means .ineluding the foregoing whereby the circuit make and break .unit is supported from a stationary part of the stated telephone and functions to support both of said yokesrand the parts mounted in said ,yokes.

.4. ,In a diallight illuminator for dial telephones, a circuit .make and break device comprising a casing having means for holding same in operative position on a predetermined part of a telephone and provided marginally with depressions for delivering current to attachment accessories, having a plurality of internal contacts eooperating with said depressions, having an actuator contact equipped member, means whereby said actuator coacts with the contacts in said casing and also with a telephone receiver, and further having a rotary shaft with a button, said shaft having a contact element and said contact element being cooperable with contacts in said casing in a manner to permit the current passing through said casing to be switched on and oh at the will of the user, a longitudinally curved yoke, a correspondingly curved reflector fitted removably between lateral end portions of said yoke, a curved lamp bulb removably fitted in said reflector, and contact equipped lateral arms carried by the bight portion of said yoke and straddling and electrically connected with predetermined depressions provided in said casing, means including said arms serving to hang and suspend the yoke so that it, and the reflector and bulb, may occupy .a position .substantially ina plane with the dial to project the'light rays be: tween the dial and the customary rotary dialing ring on said dial. r

5. Ina.diallightilluminator for dial telephones, a circuit .make andbreak device comprising :a casing having means ,for holding same inoperative position on a predetermined part of atelej phone and provided marginally with depressions for delivering current to attachment accessories, having a plurality of internal contacts cooperj' ating with said depressions, having an actuator contact equipped member means wherebysaid actuator coacts with the contacts in said, casing and with .a telephone receiver, and .fuiither'lha'ving a rotaryshait witha button, saidshafthave ing a contact element and said contact element being .cooperable with contacts in said casing in a manner to permit the current passing through said casing to be switched on and ofi .atthewill of the user, a longitudinally curved yoke, a core respondingly curved reflector fitted removably be;- tween lateral end portions of said yoke, a curved lamp bulb removably fitted in said reflecton'and contact equipped lateral arms carried .by the bi lit portion of said yoke and straddling .andelecj trically connected with predetermined depress sions provided in said casing, means including said arms serving to hang and suspend "theyoke so that it, and the reflector and bulb, may ocf cupy a position substantially in aplane 'withthe dial to project the light rays between the dial and the customary rotary dialling ring on said dial, .a substantially U-sh'aped frame, fa dry cell battery holder removably mountedin said frame; an adapter detachably connected with 'thefbigh't portion of said frame, said adapter embodying spaced parallel resilient limbs, said limbs being electrically wired and terminating at their 'free ends in contacts andsaid contacts being detach: ably connected with predetermineddepressions in the statedcasing.

FRANK J. SHENK.

REFERENCES CITED The iollowing references are of record in 1th file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,918,876 Smith July 1 8, "19.33 1,945,956 Rowell "Feb. 6, 1934 1,961,474 Baum June 5, 1934 1,982,457 Schmitt Nov. 27, 1934 2,247,591 Sundee July 1, 1941 2,259,148 Burkhart Oct. 14, 1941 2,284,451 Schauer May 26, 19452 2,397,469 Casonov Apr. 2, 194 6 2,410,527 Schinske Nov-'5 1 946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number "Country Date 27,27 6 Great Britain Oct. 16, 1913 

